Corpus Linguistics
Investigating Language Structure and Use
Douglas Biber, Northern Arizona University
Susan Conrad, Iowa State University
Randi Reppen, Northern Arizona University
This book is about investigating the way people use language in speech
and writing. It introduces the corpus-based approach to the study of
language, based on analysis of large databases of real language
examples and illustrates exciting new findings about language and the
different ways that people speak and write. The book is important both
for its step-by-step descriptions of research methods and for its
findings about grammar and vocabulary, language use, language
learning, and differences in language use across texts and user
groups.
Contents:
Preface; 1. Introduction: goals and methods of the corpus-based
approach; PART I. Investigating the use of language features:
2. Lexicography; 3. Grammar; 4. Lexico-grammar; 5. The study of
discourse characteristics; PART II. Investigating the characteristics
of varieties: 6. Register variation and English for special purposes;
7. Language acquisition and development; 8. Historical and stylistic
investigations; PART III: Summing up and looking ahead: 9. Conclusion;
PART IV. Methodology boxes: Appendix; Notes and suggestions for
further reading; References; Index.
Cambridge Approaches to Linguistics
1998/310 pp.
0-521-49622-5/Hb/List: $59.95 Disc.: $47.96
0-521-49957-7/Pb/List: $19.95 Disc.: $15.96
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